Reflections on life in Damascus

View full sizeGeorge Samaan's grandson, Jaydan, and son, Adam, enjoy the family's roomy property in Damascus.Courtesy of George Samaan

DAMASCUS -- Nearly 33 of the 44 years I have been in Oregon were spent in Damascus.

My wife and I, our son and cat Pywacket, moved here in early July 1981 from Milwaukie when our house, under construction since early fall 1980, was issued an occupancy permit. Our second son arrived less than a year later, in June 1982. The 1.23-acre lot we purchased in the summer of 1980 was one of four lots on Denise Court. After looking for months for a house or lot, we thought the find was a dream come true.

Open spaces loomed everywhere. They included the 80-acre Underegg property, the Siri Farm, and the adjacent undeveloped lands to the west. Two of the lots on Denise Court were already occupied; the fourth was occupied less than two years later. We have had very special neighbors who shared our good times with the rest of the Bel Air Estates neighborhood.

At times, Bel Air had to face challenges from those who would threaten our peace and tranquility. Under those circumstances, we came together to successfully block such development proposals as a medieval games park on the Underegg property, a communications tower in our midst, home occupations that did not belong, and an airport limousine fiasco, among others.

We did all that under our county's umbrella of planning and service delivery, including a Community Planning Organization that reviewed land use and other activities with potential impact on our neighborhood.

Additionally, we got to review the Orchard Lake and Trillium Park subdivision proposals. We liked Orchard Lake as soon as we laid eyes on its plans. Trillium underwent a lengthy review involving county staff and the developer and focused on density and amenities. When our group was finally convinced that there was nothing that Bel Air residents could do about density, given the developer was within his right to do so, we turned our attention to amenities.

We insisted on open space and a bridge over the creek. The open space is in the process of being developed as a park. Throughout all that, our patch of land on this side of the world underwent a real workout. From four wheelers and go-carts to motorcycles, our neighbors managed to endure it all with aplomb. Our two sons still get a kick coming back to try to relive those years of growing up. In fact, our 5-year old grandson occasionally rides his "Yellow Bug," an appropriately sized four wheeler, on this same piece of land his parents enjoyed. Where else can one do that? Not in our former Milwaukie backyard.

This environment of collaboration and cooperation flourished for the next 21-plus years. We entered a new era in 2002 when Damascus was brought into the Metropolitan Urban Growth Boundary. That meant an "urban" rather than "rural" designation that required urban-level development upon completion, adoption, and acknowledgement of a Comprehensive Plan.

Soon after, a group of Damascans began laying plans to incorporate as a city in order to avoid being taken over by Happy Valley or Gresham or both. That way, they argued, we'd be able to maintain "local control" by "piloting our own ship." That sounded like a good idea at the time. Therefore, when a petition appeared on the ballot in early November 2004, a healthy majority of Damascans voted for it.

Meanwhile, an effort was under way to produce a "Concept Plan" for Damascus. The newly elected City Council, with near-zero experience in city governance, took up the challenge of presenting the plan to the public. Strong opposition to the plan caused the council to drop it almost immediately in early 2005. The council then focused its attention on developing a comprehensive plan and began hiring interim and permanent managerial and line staff to accomplish that. Money was no object. There was plenty of it to spend on staff, consultants, reports, studies, etc., and we are still mired in the details, some comprehensible, some not.

Oh yes, there were highlights: The flow charts that came and went, the charrette, the evolving core values, the incomplete plan submitted to the state for review and found to be seriously wanting. There also was the time in 2011 when a plan submitted to voters was overwhelmingly rejected. And, lately, another plan has been inching toward completion. This too has to be submitted to voters for approval in November 2013, if ready. Even if it is ready, its fate is unknown. It is assumed by some that the same fate awaits it as that of the 2011 plan. Needless to say, many have begun to yearn for the return of county rule.